The view from Echo Point
So you want to explore the Blue Mountains but you’re not sure where to start? Check out my guide below to plan your perfect day trip from Sydney!
Which option is best for you?
There are a few different ways you can explore the Blue Mountains from Sydney:
On your own via car
On your own via train
With a tour group
Personally, I despise tour groups, so I knew I wanted to do this adventure on my own. I also have absolutely no interest in renting a car in a foreign country, let alone a foreign country that drives on the opposite side of the road than I am used to, so I was thrilled to discover that you can easily get to the Blue Mountains from Sydney via train!
I highly recommend this option, even if you have a rental car, because the trails don’t loop back to their original spot, so you would have to walk back to your car from wherever you end your hike, which is just plain inconvenient.
Check out all of my Sydney recommendations here!
The Three Sisters
Part of the luscious trail of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk
Getting from Sydney to the Blue Mountains via Train
The journey is so much easier than you would expect! Take the train from Sydney Central Station to Katoomba Station. It’s two hours from one to the other, or an hour and forty-five minutes if you hop on the express train.
It’s only a 15 minute difference, but for the timing worked out for me so I went for the express.
To take the train you will need an Opal card, you can get one at any train station and reload it at stations, wharves, most convenience stores, or on the Opal app.
The train leaves from Sydney Central every hour, so you can be flexible with your plans for whenever you prefer to start your adventure.
I hopped on the 8:42AM Express to Katoomba & the 3:24PM non-express back to Sydney Central, which to me was the perfect amount of time.
Once you arrive at Katoomba Station you will walk one mile straight down Katoomba Street from the station, turn left at the large sign for Echo Point, and BAM! that’s it! You made it to the Blue Mountains National Park!
See, I told you it was easy!
Pro Tip: Stop at one of the grocery stores on your walk down Katoomba Street for snacks and water!
Okay so you’re at the Blue Mountains, now what?
Your adventure begins at Echo Point, where you have sweeping views of the Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters to the left. Follow the path to the right to pop down to Elizabeth Lookout for a slightly better view of the Three Sisters.
You’re standing there soaking in these gorgeous views and then seven million tourists and selfie-sticks are pushing you to the brink of craziness and you’re thinking ‘what did I get myself into?!” but don’t fret. The tour bus crowds are generally only an issue at Echo Point. The deeper you go on the trail the less people you encounter.
Once you’re ready to start your hike, I recommend heading east along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk. You can also go west towards Scenic World, which has great options for kids or those who don’t want to hike.
You are going to essentially follow the Prince Henry Cliff Walk your entire hike, so don’t fret about getting lost or making a wrong turn!
When you begin your journey it is a paved trail to The Three Sisters, where you can walk down and get up close to the legendary monument.
From here, you continue along the Prince Henry Cliff Walk where the trail becomes dirt and you leave the crowds behind. There are stunning views along the way via various lookouts, but unless you are really determined, you do not need to stop at each one, the view does not change that drastically within a couple of minutes. I would recommend Lady Carrington Lookout, which has nice views.
Burrabarroo Lookout is the perfect spot for a snack/lunch break, but be sure to go all the way deep into it. At first glance it appears like there is no view, but you need to climb over the rocks all the way to the fenced space for a great view.
Leura Cascades
Not long after Burrabarroo you have to pop up onto the road for about two minutes, then you walk down the steps on your right. Quickly after this you are at the Bridal Veil Lookout, where you can see Bridal Veil Falls.
On your walk from the lookout to Bridal Veil Falls there are a lot of steps down, some of which are a bit slick, as a heads up.
Just past Bridal Veil Falls you will hit the Leura Cascades, a small waterfall with steps along the right that lead up to a picnic area. There are bathrooms here, the only ones along the hike, so take advantage!
From the picnic area you will head to Bridal Veil View. It’s not the most impressive waterfall set against the large mountain, but it’s still cool to see.
From here you will walk up quite a few stairs to Tarpeian Rock Lookout, where you can soak in the majestic views and take a rest on a bench if you need to after all those steps up!
Just past Tarpeian Rock is Elysian Rock Lookout, which is also great! You can decide from here if you want to walk up to Leura or venture just a bit further to Gordon Falls. I was not impressed with Gordon Falls whatsoever. Maybe after a heavy rainfall it would be better, but overall it was disappointing.
From here you will walk into the town of Leura. Take Olympian Parade to Leura Mall, and the train station is at the end of Leura Mall. In the town of Leura there are a few restaurants and coffee shops if you need to refuel before hopping on the train back to Sydney.
Hiking in my Founders Brewing shirt!
Key information for planning your Blue Mountains trip:
I spent 3.5 hours in the National Park & a half an hour on each end walking through Katoomba and Leura to/from the train stations—so overall it was 4.5 hours. I walk quickly in general, but I also stopped to take a lot of pictures, so I would say overall it was an average pace.
If you follow the route I described it is ~8.5 miles overall.
You don’t need to pack hiking boots for this—I love my Merrills, but my Nike tennis shoes were just fine for this hike.
Be sure to bring snacks and water! There are no options along the way if you get hungry/thirsty.
Keep your eyes peeled for animals on your hike, you are in a National Park in Australia where everything can kill you (just kidding but really). I saw lots of gorgeous birds, lizards, and a snake—that I straight up sprinted away from.
